Rome and Milan have ordered no-car days next week to combat pollution, which has hit unhealthy levels for weeks mainly because no rain has fallen to wash away the smog.

A six-hour ban on cars this coming Monday and Tuesday was announced by Rome, while Milan's anti-pollution measure sees six-hour bans on each of those days plus Wednesday.

In Rome, home heating is blamed along with heavy traffic for the eye-stinging, throat-irritating air.

Until air quality improves, thermostat settings in Rome's homes and office cannot exceed 18C (64F). The total hours a day furnaces can run is being reduced from 12 to eight. Schools and hospitals are the exceptions.